6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 5 - Results & Review)

SmackDown gets a new faction; NXT star debuts; Roman Reigns looks...stupid.

by Jamie Kennedy
Roman Reigns Solo Sikoa Jimmy Uso Paul Heyman Bloodline
WWE.com

Triple H clearly wanted to start SmackDown's 2024 with a bang.

WWE's creative chief loaded the show with two matches that had title consequences at Royal Rumble later this month. Further, 'The Game' made sure top stars like Roman Reigns and Logan Paul were on the booking sheets, and decided to spice things up by debuting a brand new faction and a new tag-team (for the main roster, at least).

Some of the decision-making, whilst bold, must be called into question though. The most important champ on the roster looked like an absolute idiot towards the end of SmackDown, and his so-called "Wise Man" needs a slap for not seeing what literally everyone else could before it was far too late.

Did any of this wreck the show? No, not really, but it does cheapen thoughts that The Bloodline is some super-cerebral winning machine that manipulates things to favour the 'Tribal Chief'. Many reading this won't have a problem with the booking, and that's fine, but do be prepared for a bit of a moan about tropes!

Here's all the good and bad from Friday night.

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.